Repole wants his Travers canoe

SARATOGA SPRINGS – There was no canoe in the infield lake at Saratoga Race Course Sunday. And there might not be one Monday, but there could be two on Tuesday.

As a result of the dead heat in Saturday’s Travers, there will be two canoes — traditionally painted in the colors of the winning owners — docked in the Spa’s pond.

The canoe that honored Stay Thirsty’s 2011 Travers win is apparently heading to owner Mike Repole’s Long Island home after the meet. Repole said Sunday that he approached the New York Racing Association about the possibility of buying the boat that was painted in his blue and orange colors.

“My friends were jokingly saying they were plotting to steal it,” Repole said by cellphone Sunday. “They said they were going to get scuba gear, go in there after midnight, and get it. To keep my friends out of jail, I decided to call NYRA and ask if I could buy it.”

NYRA politely declined the offer, but said they would gladly give Repole the canoe for nothing if he would make donations to funds that benefit horse rescue and the backstretch. Repole said he would make a “substantial” donation to both.

The canoe, he said, is supposed to be his by the end of the meet. He said having it in his possession will be like owning the Stanley Cup.

The Stay Thirsty canoe will head to Long Island, maybe sit in Repole’s pool at a September house party. Next spring, it will be out in the backyard. Half of it will be used by his wife, who will grow flowers; the other half goes to his grandmother’s tomato plants.

“Let’s be honest, I’ll probably never win the Travers again,” Repole said. “Just seeing it will bring back plenty of memories.”

That means there will be two new canoes in the house, with the green, purple and orange colors of Golden Ticket and the blue and white of Alpha. Those vessels could be in the water by Tuesday.